France’s Trap Men Junior shooter Clement Francis Andre Bourgue made his debut in an ISSF World Championship today in Moscow (RUS), and he made it in a memorable way.
With just two previous appearances in international competitions, one at the European Championship and one at last month’s Junior World Cup in Porpetto (ITA), the 17-year-old battled all along the final with Italian talent Matteo Marongiu (17), who reached the 25-clay mark with a 1-hit advantage on his French rival. There, Bourgue hit 13 straight targets, taking the lead and successfully defending it from Marongiu’s comeback.
“I don’t think I’ve realized what I’ve done, not yet” said Bourgue, who took Gold with 43 hits.
“I wasn’t actually paying attention to the score, so I didn’t feel the pressure of him getting closer. I just did what I know,” continued the 17-year-old. “I already received many, many congratulation calls… From my family, from my friends, and even from people I don’t know!”
Marongiu finished with 42 clay hits, claiming his fourth international medal, the first in an ISSF World Championship after the two Junior World Cup ones and the Silver secured at the 2016 European Championship in Lonato (ITA)
Pocketing his second junior medal in a World Championship after the Silver he claimed in Granada (ESP) in 2014, Australia’s 20-year-old Jack Wallace taking Bronze medal with 31 hits.
Both Marongiu’s and Wallace’s teammates finished just outside of the podium, as Italy’s second finalist Emanuele Buccolieri (20) barely missed the Bronze, not hitting his 35th and final clay and finishing in 4th place with 28 hits. While Australia’s 18-year-old Mitchell Iles-Crevatin left the match after clay number 25, taking 5th place with 21 target hits.
United States’ Ryne Baxter Barfield (20), finally, took 6th position, failing to climb back after missing three of his first five targets and finishing with 18 hits in his first final participation.
The ISSF World Championship Shotgun in Moscow (RUS) will continue tomorrow with the Trap Mixed Team event. The final will be streamed live on the ISSF website, on the Federation’s Livestream channel, on its official Facebook page and on the Olympic Channel.
Live results of the competitions, news and updates will be available on www.issf-sports.org and on all ISSF social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Weibo and Youku.